Compressor dehydration via sorbent technology

Abstract

Methods of removing moisture from a compressor using a sorbent technology are provided. A dehydration device incorporating the sorbent technology is disposed in a system that contains a hygroscopic fluid. By passing the hygroscopic fluid over the sorbent technology, moisture is removed from the hygroscopic fluid. The systems include sealed devices and integral components for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and refrigeration devices.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A method of removing moisture in a sealed system comprising a compressor comprising:
 a. introducing a fluid comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant oil into the sealed system comprising the compressor; and 
 b. contacting the fluid with a dehydration device located inside or disposed near the compressor in the sealed system to remove a portion of moisture from the fluid within the sealed system, wherein the dehydration device comprises a composite comprising a sorbent material in a polymer matrix, wherein the composite has a first water affinity and the fluid has a second water affinity, wherein the first water affinity is greater than the second water affinity. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching the dehydration device to an interior of the compressor using a fastener. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising attaching the dehydration device at a location inside the compressor adjacent a fluid collection area or adjacent a flow path for the fluid. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting the fluid with the dehydration device occurs concurrently with the introducing the fluid into the sealed system. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material is selected from the group consisting of: calcium zeolites, sodium zeolites, potassium zeolites, aluminosilicates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant oil comprises a polyol ester oil. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing the dehydration device comprising a packet and a plurality of dehydration components within the compressor, so that after the introducing the fluid into the sealed system comprising the compressor, the packet contacts the fluid and removes at least a portion of moisture contained in the fluid by retaining the moisture in the dehydration components. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising mounting the packet on a component inside the compressor. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising passing the fluid through interstices defined between the plurality of dehydration components in the packet of the dehydration device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dehydration device is capable of removing at least a portion of moisture during an operating condition of the compressor selected from on-, off-, or standby-conditions. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising hermetically sealing the compressor after the disposing the packet in the compressor. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein removal of at least a portion of the moisture occurs concurrently with introducing the fluid into the sealed system comprising the compressor. 
     
     
       13. A method of forming a compressor comprising:
 forming a dehydration device by forming a composite material comprising a polymer matrix and a sorbent material; and 
 disposing the dehydration device on an interior of the compressor, wherein the dehydration device is capable of removing at least a portion of moisture from a fluid comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant oil circulated within the compressor. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the forming further comprises shaping the composite material into an integral component for the compressor and incorporating the integral component into the compressor. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the integral component is capable of removing at least a portion of moisture during an operating condition of the compressor selected from on-, off-, or standby-conditions. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing moisture from the compressor during operation by retaining at least a portion of the moisture in the sorbent material of the dehydration device, wherein the dehydration device has a first water affinity and the fluid has a second water affinity, wherein the first water affinity is higher than the second water affinity. 
     
     
       17. A method of forming a component for a scroll compressor comprising:
 shaping a composite material comprising a polymer matrix and a sorbent material into an integral component for the scroll compressor capable of removing moisture from a hygroscopic fluid comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant oil processed in the scroll compressor. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising incorporating the integral component into the scroll compressor. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising hermetically sealing the scroll compressor. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing moisture from the scroll compressor by retaining at least a portion of the moisture in the sorbent material. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the integral component is capable of removing at least a portion of the moisture during an operating condition of the scroll compressor selected from on-, off-, or standby-conditions.